Epidural hemorrhage(bleeding between skull and outermost three membranes that cover brain (under control)

Facial and scalp contusions. Also hands and arms scrapings and big bruises

I spent from april 7th to 9th in the Baltimore shock trauma unit , was able to come home on the 9th, walking with a cane
on a side note, i’ve heard horror stories from people spending nights at hospitals, the Baltimore shock trauma unit was great, no complaints at all, all the nurses extremely nice, and most of the female ones were really hot o_o

so yeah, if you ride a bicycle, wear a helmet >.<

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let me walk you through what i remember:
riding down the street on my bike to see if there were any cars, didnt see any
start a turn into my court where my house was
my neighbor is holding me down telling me not to get up
in ambulance and the people in there are telling me they’re taking me right to Baltimore shock trauma, not the hospital a mile from my house .
then i was in the shock trauma unit puking all over the floor

so yeah, i don’t remember the crash at all, from what i gather a neighbor found me laying there in the street shortly after i crashed

this is like my fourth bike crash in my life that i’ve been injured in(even slight injury, including just cuts), the other three i was able to duck and roll and protect my head, and i remember those crashes..(edit>).also i should note that those other crashes were from when i was younger doing stupid shit on a BMX bike… not a mountain bike

7 Comments.

Justin
Im glad you are OK. I know my dad wanted to be a writer, but you seem to be covering the events in an absurdly entertaining way! I think you should have your story in a local newspaper with updates every week and your funny remarks. I could do comic sketches.

I will now be checking your blog regularly even after your recovery for your silly thoughts on things that happen to you.

Haha that sounds like a plan, but hey one has too keep good humor about things. Would be very easy to get lost in “oh my this could of killed me! or left me as a vegetable!” and those sorts of things, it could of killed me, it didn’t … so lets make jokes! :D

Justin, I am so relieved that the crash wasn’t worse than it was (which frankly seems pretty bad) and I will pray for your speedy and full recovery. I take it from the notes that you weren’t wearing a helmet but will do so going forward. Your parents must have been frantic!!!! Please rest well and take care of yourself….we will call your Dad for an update.

Side note: We were in Arlington/Washington D.C. this weekend for Liz’s birthday on Sunday, 4/11. We’re coming back and staying in Alexandria around July 9 weekend and were hoping to connect with your family to see if they were around. Hope we get a chance to toast your recovery, too! Take care, Pat Elko

Last week, Patricia and I almost lost our son. Yes, we almost lost our son in a bicycle crash. No, he was not wearing a helmet. Maybe one or two more miles per hour or a slightly different angle on the crash and we would all be getting together for a funeral of a 20 year old. It was this close. Makes you think, doesn’t it?

While many relatives, friends, and co-workers have heard the story, few have a complete understanding of how serious the accident was and on how life threatening the injuries were. Wednesday night I was reading internet medical site reviews that suggested 5% to 55% mortality rates for the type of injuries that Justin incurred. Wow, think about it. What if someone told you that there was a 5% chance that a loved one would not survive? Now, increase that to 55%.

Justin continues to recover well. Within a few days he has also rapidly matured, gaining decades of understanding within days. There is something to be realized form spending two days in a trauma center watching and listening to patients being rolled through with life threatening injuries from motorcycle crashes, gun shots, and drugs.

Patricia and I are proud of how Justin has pulled through and how Justin has used this experience to have a positive impact on others. At least 20 people have already told him that they will now wear helmets when they ride bicycles — including one of his doctors.

I am also very proud of how Patricia dropped everything and spent two nights by Justin’s side in the Trauma Center. If you are ever in serious medical need, Patricia is one of a select few who is a true healer and advocate. She helped my mom recover, and last week she assured that Justin received full medical attention, as well as, her uncompromising love and attention.

I also express my appreciation for a rapidly growing number of prayer groups throughout the US, from our neighbor Joan, to numerous members of Patricia’s family, to my brother Tom’s family in California.

“And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me, speaking words of wisdom” :so, if you ride a bicycle, wear a fucking helmet,
Dad